Jorge P. Alfonzo Guerra MD PhD
Nephrologist. Founding member, full professor and consulting nephrologist at the national Nephrology Institute in Havana, Dr Alfonzo has published four books and some 250 articles in Cuba and internationally and has received numerous awards for his scientific contributions. He is a pioneer of renal transplantation in Cuba and member of Cuba’s Academy of Sciences. Dr Alfonzo’s research concentrates on renal transplantation, hypertension and history of nephrology in Cuba.
Jorge A. Berlanga Acosta DVM MS PhD
After completing his training in veterinary medicine, Dr Berlanga obtained a master’s degree in medicine and comparative pathology and went on to earn a doctorate in pharmacology. A member of Cuba’s Academy of Sciences, he has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles on tissue repair and wound healing. Dr Berlanga is first author of the US patent for Heberprot-P.
Lidia E. Charroó-Ruíz MD MS
Clinical neurophysiologist. Dr Charroó is associate professor and researcher at the Cuban Neuroscience Center (CNC), Havana. Besides her work on neuroplasticity, she has widely applied neurophysiological techniques to research on learning disabilities, hearing loss, Cuban epidemic neuropathy, response to treatment in diabetic patients, effects of organic solvents on the nervous system, biomarkers of depression, and intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring. She was awarded Cuba’s annual prize for public health in 2000.
Sonia Clapés Hernández PhD
Chemical engineer with a doctorate in health sciences. Dr Clapés is full professor in the biochemistry department of Victoria de Girón Basic and Preclinical Sciences Institute at the Medical University of Havana, where she also chairs the Scientific Council. Her international work has included teaching in graduate programs in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. Her research on birth defects and oxidative stress in diabetes has been widely published in Cuba and internationally.
Amalia Peix González MD PhD DrSc
Cardiologist. Dr Peix is deputy director for research and coordinates the nuclear medicine working group at the Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Institute in Havana. Her research has received numerous awards, including the Cuban Cardiology Society’s 75th anniversary medal in 2012. She currently focuses on imaging techniques for cardiac insufficiency; myocardial perfusion and acute coronary syndrome in women; and detection of silent ischemia in diabetics.
Aramís Sánchez Gutiérrez MS
Medical microbiologist with a master’s degree in infectious diseases. Deputy director general and head of national programs at TecnoSuma International SA in Havana’s Immunoassay Center, he has been involved in developing reagents for diagnosing dengue, toxoplasmosis and leprosy. Mr Sánchez has worked in Cuba and internationally on developing and managing laboratory networks linked to health programs.
Nélida L. Sarasa Muñoz MD MS PhD
Physician anatomist with a master’s degree in medical education and doctorate in medical sciences. Full and consulting professor at the Medical University of Villa Clara, Dr Sarasa has held senior academic positions while carrying out a full research program that has garnered several awards and been disseminated in some 50 publications. Currently she is conducting research on maternal anthropometrics and birth outcomes and on teaching methods for developing professional competencies.
Luis Sarmiento Pérez MS PhD
Microbiologist with a master’s degree in virology and a doctorate in health sciences. Dr Sarmiento is associate researcher in the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute’s enterovirus laboratory. His work on enteroviral epidemics and on associations between viruses and chronic non-communicable diseases (such as type 2 diabetes and celiac disease) has earned multiple national scientific awards. He is currently collaborating with WHO on three projects to develop new polio vaccine strategies.
